Double-bottom boat



July 13, 1954 c. R. HARKINS 2,683,269

DOUBLE-BOTTOM BOAT Filed Jan. 30, 1953 I N VEN TOR.

ATTCIRN EYE Patented July 13, V1954 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDOUBLE-BOTTOM BOAT Charles R. Harkins, Flint, Mich.

Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,213

2 Claims.

This invention relates to boats and particularly small craft that aresubjected to tipping and rocking from Waves of other boats and also fromthe weather, and in particular a boat having a second bottom spaced fromthe conventional bottom of the boat and provided with a longitudinallydisposed dividing section on the keel and with laterally disposeddividing walls whereby with the ends of pockets formed between theconventional bottom and auxiliary bottom open the Weight of water in thepockets retains the boat in a substantially level position.

Various types of boats, and particularly fishing and pleasure boats tipand rock readily from waves caused by the wind and also by passing shipsand in some instances the small craft are upset. It is desirable,therefore, to provide means for stabilizing comparatively small boats.With this thought in mind this invention contemplates means forretaining pockets for holding water, as a balancing agent in the sidesof a boat whereby the tendency of the boat to roll or tip is offset bythe weight of water in the pockets on the side of the boat that has atendency to move upwardly.

'Ihe object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means forforming water pockets in the bottom of a boat wherein the pockets areopen and the weight of water in the pockets is used to counterbalance aforce tending to elevate a side of the boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide water retaining pockets inthe bottom of a boat in which the pockets drain as the boat is removedfrom the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boat having a doublebottom With dividing partitions providing pockets open at the sides ofthe boat in which the boat is of a comparatively simple and economicalconstruction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a boat having spaced upper and lower parallel bottoms with acontinuous longitudinally disposed dividing wall on the keel and withspaced angularly disposed partitions extended from the dividing walls tothe sides of the boat.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the boat.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the boat taken on line 2--2of Fig. l.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the boa-t 2 taken on line 3--3 ofFig. 1 and showing the boat in a horizontal position.

Figure 4 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 3 showing the boattilted toward the starboard side.

Figure 5 is a cross section also similar to that shown in Fig. 3 showingthe boat tilted toward the port side.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the boat taken on line 6-46of Fig. 2 looking upwardly toward the under side of the conventionalbottom of the boat and showing the dividing partitions in the areabetween the conventional and auxiliary bottoms.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the double bottom boat of this invention includes aboat having a bottom lil with upwardly extended side walls Il and i 2, aclosed section i3 at the bow, a panel I4 at the stern, seats I5, I6 andIl and an auxiliary bottom I8 spaced from and connected to the bottom IUwith a longitudinally disposed dividing wall i9 positioned on the keeland with dividing laterally disposed partitions 2U and 2| extended fromthe dividing wall I9 to the sides of the boat.

With the parts positioned in this manner a plurality of pockets 22 areprovided on one side of the boat between the conventional bottom lll andthe auxiliary bottom I3 and similar pockets 23 are provided on theopposite side of the wall I9 and between the bottoms In and I8.

Although the invention is primarily related to metal boats. such asaluminum boats, it will be understood that the boat may be made of othersuitable material or materials. Y

With the parts formed in this manner the pockets positioned between theconventional bottom and auxiliary bottom are normally filled with waterproviding counterweights on both sides of the yboat and should the boatattempt to tilt or rock, water caught in the pockets on one side asillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 provides a counterweight that restrainsupward movement of the sides.

By this means the boat is maintained at even keel or in a substantiallyhorizontal position and rocking, tilting, or tipping is reduced to aminimum.

With the parts arranged in this manner the section at the bow of theboat is closed with the openings or the pockets extended from the point24, shown in Fig. 6 to the stern of the boat. It will be understood,however, that the pockets may be of any suitable size and any number ofpockets may be provided as may be desired.

It will be understood that modifications, Within the scope of theappended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A boat having a closed section at the bow and a bottomwvith sidewallsand a stern .panel extended` upwardly Yfrom and depending below theedges oi the bottom, an auxiliary bottom of equal area to said firstmentioned bottom spaced below the first mentioned bottom of thelboatvand connected at iore and ait to the lower edges oi" the closed sectionat the bow and tire Astern panel, and a longitudinallyV disposed:dividing Wall conneoting the auxiliary bottom to the irst mentionedbottom at the keel.

2. A boat having a closed section at the bow and a bottom `with sidewalls and a stern panel extended .upwardly from and depending'below Cilthe edges of the bottom, an auxiliary bottom of equal area to said rstmentioned bottom spaced below the 'lirst mentioned bottom of the boatand connected at fore and aft to the lower edges of the closed sectionat the bow and the stern panel, a longitudinally disposed dividing wallconnecting the auxiliary bottom to the rst mentioned bottom at the keel,and spaced laterally disposed dividing Walls providing pockets 'extendedlaterally from both sides ofthe longitudinally disposed dividingwa'lland opening at the sides oi the boat.

.References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date '667;057 Aniello Jan. 29, 1901 1,712,167 Pontikis May7, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Da-te 111,056 Great Britain Nov.15, 1917

